Two Former Maverick County Officials Plead Guilty To Federal Bribery Charges

In Del Rio, Texas, on December 8, 2015, former Maverick County Precinct 3 Commissioner and Eagle Pass ISD teacher Jose Luis Rosales and former Maverick County Justice of the Peace and businessman Cesar Iracheta pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with an alleged bribery, kickback and bid-rigging scheme announced United States Attorney Richard Durbin, Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Appearing before United States District Judge Alia Moses, Rosales pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a bribe; Iracheta, one count of paying a bribe to an agent of an organization receiving federal funds. By pleading guilty, Rosales admitted that during 2012, he manipulated the bidding process to guarantee that individuals he chose would be awarded Maverick County construction contracts. In the scheme, those contractors deposited the checks issued to them by Maverick County and then made cash payments to Rosales. According to court records, the private contractors submitted inflated bids to Maverick County in order for there to be sufficient funds to pay the bribe to Rosales.

By pleading guilty, Iracheta, doing business as C&A Construction in Maverick County, admitted that in 2010, he paid a total of between $8,000 and $10,000 to a Maverick County Commissioner in order to secure two Precinct 2 County construction contracts worth approximately $49,000. According to court records, Iracheta submitted inflated bids to Maverick County in order for there to be sufficient funds to pay bribes to the County Commissioner.

Rosales and Iracheta face up to ten years in federal prison. Both men remain on bond pending sentencing. No sentencing dates have been scheduled.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigative Division together with the Customs and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs and the Eagle Pass Independent School District Police Department. Individuals who have first-hand information about corruption, fraud, or bribery related to Maverick County are urged to contact the FBI at (210) 225-6741.

Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Griffin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.